Game apparatus



July 5, 1.938. D. J BURLO 2,123,095

GAME APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1937A gli] l 5 l x0 7` 1: l e o/o o/ o oo/a x o o o o o n o o 15ML. n.

7?-- w I 17o/ cio o/o o-o o'o o oca/oo Olo o (lo 0 4 Patented July 5,1938 PATENT *oi-Fica 2,123,095 GAMEAPPARATUS Dennis .'I. Burlo, GreenBay, Wis.

Application March 18, 1937, Serial No. 131,715

3 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus and it aims generally toprovide a structure having a plunger actuated ball which is morefascinating and interesting than heretofore and requires greater skill.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ment 24.

description following taken in connection with accompanying drawingillustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional View taken on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, the device employs a base or platformas at Ill preferably supported so as to have its rear end slightlyhigher than the front, as shown in Figure 2. It may be supported in anysuitable manner as by means of permanent, removable or portable legs ora stand II.

Base I0 may be of any suitable material, for instance metallic, and ithas a marginal upstanding wall I2, integral therewith, if desired, whichwall conforms to the contour of the base and at the forward end has aconvex or rounded portion I3 while at the other end the wall is straightas at I4.

A. panel I5 is disposed centrally on the upper surface of the base I0,having its forwardV end rounded at I6 and spaced from the wall I3. Onopposite sides of the panel I5, rows of pegs II are provided. At therear end of the panel, a housing IB is provided having an opening I9 inthe top thereof through which balls 2E) may be manually dropped into thepath of a projector or plunger 2l. Such plunger is manually operable,having a knob 22. It also has a stem 23 slidable through the wall I4 andat its forward end has an abut- Surrounding the stem 23 and engaging theabutment 24 and wall I4 is an expansive coil spring 25. The front wallof the housing I8 has an opening 26 therethrough through which the ball2i! is adapted to be projected upon retraction of the plunger 2| againstthe tension of spring 25, and subsequent release of the plunger. `Theballs'20 which are used, are of a diameter which may pass betweenadjacent pegs I l. Guards 2l having portions 21 extending laterally inopposite directions are provided in front of the opening 26, the ballbeing projected `be- 5 tween the guards Vand the oppositely extendingportions 21 deilecting the ball if returned before leaving the panel.Spaced slightly forwardly of the guards, is a relatively low transversebarrier 28 extending above the surface of the panel I5. 10 If the ballis projected with suiicient force to pass the barrier 28, it willconstitute a go while if it does not pass the barrier 28, the playerwill be entitled to another go.

Longitudinal partitions 29 are provided on op- 15 posite sides of thepanel, dividing the interior space into outer runways 30 and innerrunways 3 I, it being noted that the panels terminate short of the roundwall I3.

Any desired rules may be followed in playing the game and I prefer thatprojected balls which return through the passageways 3I, either afterhitting the curved wall I3 or by passing between pegs I'I, shall notcount in scoring while the balls which succeed in traveling down thepassageways 30 to the wall I4 shall count in scoring.

To render the scoring more difficult and entertaining, depressions maybe provided as at suitable locations in the base Ill designed to receiveand hold the balls when they do not have suiiicient force to roll out ofthe depressions. A ball so trapped, preferably does not enter into thescoring. It is optional whether or not these depressions 32 areprovided. Coil springs 33 may be disposed in them to contact the ballsand such coil springs may be connected to stems 34 slidably mounted inopenings 35 of the base. Suchv stems 34 may be engaged from below andraised to also raise the springs 33 and move the balls 20 out of thedepressions when desired. 40

At the rear end, each of the passageways 30 and 3l has an openingthrough the base I0 so that the balls 20 lodging therein may be removed.Such openings are normally closed by means of doors 36, pivoted to swingdownwardly as at 31, and normally held closed by means of hook latches38, pivoted at 39 to the wall I4, and movable to and from beneath thedoors 36 to permit opening thereof and to hold them in closed position.

Glass or other transparent panel may be disposed over the entirestructure as at 40, retained in a groove 4I within the wall I2 and suchpanel may have an opening 42 therethrough in registry with that at I9,for deposit of the balls 20 into the receptacle I8.

The panel l5 may be of wood but obviously like the other parts, may bemade of any suitable material. Also, the complete apparatus may beornamented in any suitable manner with exposed metal parts such as thehook latches 3B and knob 22, being chromium plated, if desired.

Various additional changes may be resorted to within the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. Apparatus of the class described having a base, a panel disposedthereon narrower than the base and providing spaces on opposite sides ofthe panel, a casing at one end of the panel, ball projecting means insaid casing, the casing having an opening therethrough for deposit of aball for engagement by said projecting means, said casing also having anopening in its front wall for projecting the ball, guard means extendingfrom the casing on each side of the front opening therein between whichthe ball may pass, said guard means having portions extending inopposite directions to deflect Aa returning ball from the panel, andpartitions on the base and on opposite sides of the panel dividing thespace into passageways to receive the ball.

2. Game apparatus of the class described having a base, an attenuatedpanel of less width than the base superposed thereon, the side edges ofsaid panel forming shoulders with the base spaced inwardly from thesides of the base over which a ball is adapted to travel, meansextending from one end of said base on opposite sides of the panel incombination with the marginal edge of the panel dividing the device intopassages over the base, said panel and said means terminating short ofthe other end of the apparatus.

3. Game apparatus of the class described having a base, an attenuatedpanel of less width than the base superposed thereon, the side edges ofsaid panel forming shoulders with the base spaced inwardly from thesides of the base over which a ball is adapted to travel, meansextending from one end of said base on opposite sides of the panel incombination with the marginal edges of the panel dividing the deviceinto passages over the base, said panel and said means terminating shortof the other end of the apparatus, and said panel having rows of pegs atopposite edges thereof spaced apart suiciently for passage of the balltherebetween.

DENNIS J. BURLO.

